, 1887-12-08
PUGET SOUND!
Its Immense Resources and Its Super
i0r Advantages for Shipping.
An Array of Facts Not to Be Con-
tradIcted.

-
commerce Is making, has quickcncd en-
quIry in every direction, H. to the relativ,
advantages possessed 10y Puget Sound ion
commercial industries and interchange
\ lair and impartial answer to many let
tcrS oi enquiry received from all parts o
thc world is the object OF the present ar
ticlc
The requisite i"r economical production
depends upon Il variety and combination
uf circumstances and these must ncccs,
'arilv vary greatly, at different times and
places. 1t * Il fact that PUGET Sound is a
locality possessing all the advantages for
manufacturing lumber in the highest de-
gree Of perfection, and that its facilities
Tor placing that lumber in the hands of the
consumer in the quickest, safest and
cheapest manner are absolutely unsur-
passed. In other words, Puget Sound is
the cheapest seller and the natural dis
| tributcr Of the best manufactured timber
and lumber offered i'll the commercial
parts of the world. This of course is the
great leading industry of the Sound. But
II Is by no means the only one. The
traffic i'll grain, coal and iron is increasing
every year. The quality and yield of
wheat III the region tributary To the
| Sound is remarkable. The soil is so rich
| that ordinary cultivation results in album
dant crops. The competition OF the over
land railroads has made Puget Sound Il
center for the shipment Of the products OF
the immense grain fields OF eastern Ore
gun and Washington territory, brought
| by rail TO the large wharves on the Sound,
! thus avoiding the extra risk and expense
| incurred by crossing the Columbia river
bar, TO ship from Portland
The economic advantages OF Puget
Sound over those of the Columbia river
for the shipment of grain and coal are
proving themselves by actual experience
more and more clearly. They can be
plainly demonstrated by trying them
! Immense beds of coal and iron under
lie many parts of this section of country,
the output of three coal mines alone near
Seattle aggregating over 300, 900 tons per
annum. This vast and highly favored
section of the country is now attracting
the attention OF large numbers of people,
and thousands are fiocking here to share
in the prosperity which must necessarily
follow its development, its resources be-
ing capable of expansion to an almost un-
1 lInaifaH nN-fanf I nff ~ inrr,ifxr in
creasing from ship owners in foreign
countries, as well as in domestic ports, de-
| string specific information i'll regard to its
various industries. They wish accurate
cargoes to he shipped, safety for vessels
i'll sailing, expenses Of loading, rates OF
towage, length OF time needed to secure Il
cargo, depth OF water, and many other
points. \ manifest lack OF correct infor-
nation in regard to the different ports on
the Sound is also plainly apparent. To
answer all such inquiries is the object OF
this article.
But first, rs to Puget Sound itself, brief
ly stated: Puget Sound is a series of deep
waterways, with an unbroken shore oi
$500 miles, with splendid harbors, and IL
gateway from the ocean fifteen miles
wide through the Straits of Fuca, which
extend from east to west, for distance
of eighty miles, whose waters in mid
channel have an average depth of l0C
fathoms, and whose entrance, unlike that
of the Columbia river, is without bar.
1t is magnificent gateway from the
ocean to the Sound.
Now as to the ports of Puget Sound
Port Townsend is the port OF entry; Ports
Discovery, Hadlock, Ludlow, Gamble
Madison, Blakely, Seattle, Tacoma, Ut
salady and Seabeck, are splendid har'
bors, into which the largest vessel can
enter with perfect ease and lie securel Y Al
wharf, sheltered by the surrounding hills
ANY vessel can safely sail into the Sound
and up to any of the above ports. No
pilot is required. Should Il vessel wish
to tow to her loading place it can be done
at small expense, as n large fleet OF pow
erful tug boats, belonging to the different
mill companies and other firms, is always
at command. There is no danger tC
shipping, as the shores Of Puget Sound
consist of high bluffs, ut the foot Of which
are narrow sand beaches, and rs Il vesse
can anchor any place salong the shore
with perfect safety
In reply TO inquiries concerning mari
time business, we would say, that should
a vessel be seeking business, by going tC
the port of entry she Will have the choice
Of lumber, coal or wheat freights. Yes
sells are always in demand to carry lum
Der from one Of the many extensive mills
to Australia, China, the east and wes
coasts OF South America, Mexico, or coas
of California. Vessels are also in de
: mand, rs before stated, to carry coal anC
grain; and this demand will steadily anC
rapidly increase with the rapid develop
, mcnt of this section, which is invitin:
population from all directions
1t is evident that much misaPprehen
sion exists in the minds OF many foreign
ship masters and owners in regard 10 tht
location Of Puget Sound and Burrardt
Inlet, they being often confounded b!
them. This is 4 great mistake. While
the Straits of Fuca are common gate
way from the ocean for both, To a Ger
point, it must be remembered, tina
Burrard's Inlet lies TO the north, wlhl'
Puget Sound is to the south. To reaci
: the ports OF the Sound, the easy and saf
access has been already detailed. Blu
10 get 10 the mills ON Burrard's Inlet,
ship is compelled to pass through marrow
and tortuous passages, iii which are man;